The second round of matches in the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers brought mixed results for Southeast Asian teams. Vietnam emerged as the region’s only team to maintain a perfect winning streak.

Disappointing results in the opening round had already dampened the advancement hopes of Malaysia and Indonesia, who lost to Lebanon and drew with Laos, respectively. In the second round, however, they bounced back against weaker opponents. Malaysia demolished Mongolia 7-0, while Indonesia crushed Macau 5-0.

Despite these convincing wins, the outlook for both teams remains bleak. In their final matches, Malaysia will need to defeat Thailand, while Indonesia faces a must-win clash with South Korea to stand a chance of advancing.

Meanwhile, Thailand and Vietnam, who both won their opening matches, had diverging fates in the second round. Playing at home, Thailand was expected to overcome Lebanon but struggled in slippery, wet conditions. In the 85th minute, they conceded a header from close range. Fortunately, just three minutes later, a goalkeeping error gifted them an equalizer, ending the match 2-2.

If Thailand fails to beat Malaysia in their final game, they risk dropping to second place in the group, especially since Lebanon is almost certain to win against Mongolia. This scenario could put Thailand at a severe disadvantage or even eliminate them altogether.

Other Southeast Asian representatives have fared worse. Brunei, Timor-Leste, and Singapore have all been eliminated after losing both of their opening matches. Myanmar and Laos are virtually out of contention, having earned only one point each. Cambodia, however, has surprised everyone by climbing to second place in their group with four points. The Philippines also kept their hopes alive with a shocking 1-0 win over Tajikistan. With Nepal as their next opponent, the Philippines could realistically finish the group stage with six points.

At this stage, Vietnam has the clearest path to qualification. A draw in their final match will guarantee a spot in the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals. In contrast, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia are all in must-win situations to keep their dreams alive.

Match Results for Southeast Asia:

Vietnam 1-0 Singapore
Thailand 2-2 Lebanon
Indonesia 5-0 Macau
Malaysia 7-0 Mongolia
Myanmar 1-2 Japan
Laos 0-5 South Korea
Timor-Leste 0-6 Australia
Brunei 0-2 Turkmenistan
Philippines 1-0 Tajikistan
Cambodia 1-0 Pakistan

Thien Binh